. >> so how did john boehner feel about the white house's opening offer? michigan congressman sandra levin is ranking member of the house weighs and means committee. you saw the speaker's reaction. they felt this is a nonstarter bringing up the debt ceiling, not being specific about entitlements. what is the democratic caucus' response to the speaker? >> i think he's wrong in this sense. i'm optimistic. i think things are coming to a head. the republicans have a clear choice to continue the norquist stranglehold or have it broken and the consequences, not continuing the middle class tax cut and continuing the wealthy for all the consequences for the unemployed, those who go to doctors and doctors have to be reimbursed, i think in the end the republicans will choose to have the hammer lock, the stranglehold of norquist ended. >> well, some would say that the aarp has a stronglehold on the -- strangle hold on the democratic caucus now that aarp has even come out against means testing on entitlements. do you think the democrats will vote for means testing on